Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

Tell her that the Amazon in front of her has the strength to stand shoulder to shoulder with a first-class adventurer.

(Lv.5...no, 6?)

If Ais's intuition is correct, then it's truly terrifying.

The other party must be a [Family] from outside the city, without a doubt. Ais only knows about small worlds like Orario or dungeons, but she understands that it is extremely difficult to elevate one's "capacity" outside the labyrinth city. Based on this premise, the two sisters, who concealed their presence as first-level adventurers, exuded an obviously unusual aura.

Furthermore, the person killed the man-eating flower in an instant. What kind of trial did they overcome? Questions kept coming.

(And that person... kept looking at Tione.)

The woman with medium-length hair (sami-long) who had dealt with the carnivorous plant remained expressionless, exuding an aura even more taciturn than herself (Ais).

Meanwhile, her partner, an Amazon with braids reaching her waist, stared intently at Tione, who had defied Kali, a smile playing on her lips.

She quickly noticed Ais peeking at her and gave her a look.

The clingy gaze, like that of a reptile, naturally heightened Ais's vigilance.

"But then again, it's been years since we last met..."

Kali first looked up and stared directly at Tione, touching her own childlike breasts with both hands, before looking back at Tione's undulating breasts.

"You've grown so much..."

"Where are you talking...!"

Kali, who was murmuring with deep emotion, also glanced at the same spot on Tiona's body.

"Yeah, you're the same as before."

"What are you talking about—!?"

Tiona exploded when Kari said that with such a lack of interest.

She waved her hands and stomped her feet as usual, and Ais instinctively supported her from behind.

"I've heard of your reputation. You're called the 'Loki Familia,' aren't you? Where is the chief god?"

"I'm here."

Loki walked past the screaming Tiona, stepped forward from the crowd, and faced Galina.

The crimson-haired god stared at his opponent without any politeness, then revealed a bold and fearless smile.

"So that's how it is... Alright, whatever. As you can see, these two kids' current parents are me, Little Shorty Number Two. What brings you here?"

"Hmm, this is my first time meeting you, but... you're really nothing special. I or Tiona are much more well-endowed."

"Hey you brat, you want to fight the first time we meet?! I'll fight you, you brat?!"

Loki, who had initially intended to provoke Loki, instead fell victim to his opponent's provocation, instantly turning red-faced and furious. His first impression couldn't have been worse.

Seeing the main god erupt like a volcano, "Please, please calm down!" "You're making things more complicated, calm down!" This time, it was Lefia and Angie's turn to step forward and stop them.

Ignoring Loki, who was still shouting and cursing despite being stopped by several people, Kali looked at Tione, who was still glaring at her.

"I will be staying in this town for a while. If you are also here, let's find another opportunity to meet."

"Are you kidding me..."

"You really hate me, don't you? Do you hate me that much... do you hate us all?"

"I never want to see your face again..."

Tione said disdainfully to Kali and the Amazons behind her.

Seeing her like this, the eyes beneath the goddess mask narrowed.

She led the Amazons, turning her back on Tione and the others.

"I've missed you all so much, my precious children (daughters)."

As she left, she left those words behind and walked out of the harbor.

She said, "My child (daughter)..."

Lefia glanced at the goddess and the others who had walked away, then at Tione who was standing still, and said softly.

She asked Loki, whom she had stopped, with trepidation:

"What is the relationship between Miss Tione and the others, and that goddess and the others...?"

"...Well, I think you've probably already figured it out..."

Loki, who was originally furious, sighed and relaxed his grip.

She broke free from the restraint of Lefia and the others, scratching her head as she answered:

"That's the [familia] that Tione and the others used to belong to. It was the first faction they belonged to before they came to our family."

Ignoring Lefia and Ais, who were staring wide-eyed.

Silent and watching her sister's retreating figure, Tiona looked up at the unbearably clear sky.

✿

"The Kali Familia is the goddess who reigns over the country of Tirskula, and her faction."

night.

In the hotel they had booked as a base for their investigation in the port city (Melon), Ais and her friends listened to Riveria and Loki explain in the lobby the Kali Familia, which clearly had a close relationship with Tione and the others, and the various stories associated with them.

"Tir Scylla...that's a peninsula nation located far southeast of Orario, right?"

"Indeed, it's an isolated island surrounded by the ocean and sheer cliffs... known for its inhabitants being only Amazonians. I think many people have heard of it."

"Just like the kingdom (Lachia) of the war god (Ares), you could say it's a nation-type [familia]. I don't really think that little dwarf number two is that good at governing..."

Rivera answered the cat-woman Angel, while Loki added his explanation.

"No way, I'm totally incompatible with lolis." "Stinky little guy, one big-breasted potato ball girl is enough, okay..." "What's with that annoying masked girl? Ugh, she's so infuriating!" The main god was complaining the whole time, while Riveria, Ais, and the others didn't say a word.

"I heard that country prohibits men from entering, and even if they do, they are either slaves or must be used as tools for procreation in order to be allowed to stay there."

"It was mentioned briefly in the school district classroom, and my impression at the time was that it was a rather barbaric country..."

"You're right. I've heard that the local inhabitants constantly fight and hone their skills, and there's not a day without shouts and cheers. It's a land of blood and struggle... also known as the holy land of female warriors (Amazons)."

Riveria answered Lefia while continuing her explanation.

"They are also one of the few world powers outside of Orario that retains outstanding combat strength. Compared to other countries, they tend to have a policy of isolation, and the information available to the outside world is limited, but..."

Rivera paused here.

She looked around at Ais and the others sitting on the sofa and said the following:

"Rumors have it that the sisters' leaders, Algana and Baje, have reached Lv.6 in the past two years."

Lefia and the others gulped down their food.

Even in Orario, there are not many Level 1 adventurers, and since she is also Level 6 like Riveria and the others, her strength should not be underestimated.

Since settling in the labyrinth city, the girls have often forgotten to look at the world beyond the city walls, and now they all feel a chill in their hearts.

"Riviera, they don't have dungeons, so how come they can become so strong... and level up?"

The first person to ask was Ais.

The Amazonian group she'd encountered during the day resurfaced in her mind. The sisters were just exceptionally outstanding; the others must possess strength comparable to high-level adventurers. "How could they become so strong without the benefits of the dungeon?" Ais wondered.

After a moment of silence, Rivera spoke:

"I've heard that they hold 'rituals' in the arena every day... which are essentially life-or-death battles. This goes without saying, even among the Amazons themselves."

This statement shocked Ais and the others.

"I remember an explorer wrote in his travelogue about his experience of sneaking into Tyr Scylla and escaping death... 'The country engages in self-destructive acts that cannot be called rituals, day and night.'"

"You mean the Chronicles of Strange Lands of Lastero Flor?"

"Yes, that's it."

"That book is also in the library of the mansion," Loki nodded in reply to Riveria, then recited the contents of his memory as if turning the pages of a book.

"'Let me echo their hymn: The Amazons of this land are the true warriors'... I remember this passage very clearly."

As soon as Loki uttered those words, the hall fell completely silent.

Whether it was Ais and the others who knew nothing about the country of Tirscula, or Lefia and the others who knew a little, they all forgot to speak. Not because they had heard the truth about the warrior (Amazonian) country with their own ears.

Rather, it was because Tiona and Tione had once belonged to that kind of country—they were once members of the [Kali Familia], a fact that shook everyone to their core.

As if forcing the words out of her parched throat, Rafia whispered:

"In that case, Miss Tiona, and Miss Tione..."

"They are from Tyr Scylla, that country is their homeland. Before joining the guild, they did say that, and they also said..."

Tiona and the others converted to the Loki Familia five years ago.

As if recalling the past, Loki leaned back on the sofa and looked up at the ceiling.

"We don't know how many of our own people we've killed, and yet you still want to recruit us?"

That was Tiony's response when Loki tried to recruit the two into his faction.

Rivera, who was present with Finn and the others, also seemed to recall that scene, and closed her eyes without saying a word.

"...!"

Loki's words greatly shocked Lefia and the others.

They had no idea that the innocent and carefree Tiona, and Tione, who had long pursued the captain, had such a past. Even now, having heard it with their own ears, they still couldn't believe it.

Indeed, no one has ever told them about their past experiences, but they have never shown any signs of the past.

(I have no idea...)

Ais didn't know such a thing existed.

At that time, Aisby was more focused on honing her skills and didn't care about anything else, so when Tiona and the others joined the group, she just felt that there were two more new members.

It wasn't until Tiona smiled at Ais time and time again, and never gave up on interacting with the taciturn and flustered girl, that Ais deepened her friendship with both of them.

Ais could sense that she was both harmed by Tiona and the others, and also benefited from them, which led to the "sophisticated" version of herself that Tsubaki and the others described. Ais was also influenced by these two sisters who were true to each other inside and out.

"..."

After hearing the whole story, Ais looked out the open window.

Tiony stood with her back to them on the spacious balcony.

"Hey, Tione, let's go inside—"

Tiony stood in front of the railing, staring at the street scene, while Tiona spoke to her frequently.

The Loki Family Inn, a large, privately-owned Southeast Asian-style hotel, is located in the heart of the port city (Meyron). From the balcony on the fifth floor, you can enjoy panoramic views of the streets and harbor.

The lights of the anchored boats, like will-o'-the-wisps, surrounded the lake surface, which was shrouded in shadow.

The lighthouse's light tore through the dark sea from the southeast.

"...What's their purpose in coming here?"

Tiony began to speak, looking down at the port city below.

She spoke with a voice devoid of emotion, toward the goddess and her retinue who resided somewhere in the town.

"I don't know, but—there's no point in thinking about it. Maybe they really are just here for sightseeing."

Tiona lowered her eyebrows and looked at her sister's profile, her words and actions just as usual.

When her younger sister leaned against the railing and peered at her face, Tiony glared at her fiercely.

"What brainless nonsense are you spouting! Kali... how could those guys possibly go to a place without conflict!?"

"..."

"Have you forgotten what those guys forced us to do those years? If so, you're incredibly naive!"

Seeing Tiony's unusual outburst, Tiona also became unhappy, and the two started arguing.

"So what do you want? We have things to do right now! Are you going to abandon our duties and rush to Kali? Tione, that's a strange thing to say!"

"I didn't say that, you idiot! Why are you framing me?!"

"It was you, Tione, who started this trouble with me!"